Educator Guide: No Body Is No Problem for Detached Sea Slug Heads

Animals
sea slug body next to detached head

The detached head of a sea slug (Elysia cf. marginata) glides by its still-living, leaf-shaped body a day after separation. That body, 80 percent of the animal’s weight, is out of luck. It’s the head that survives, growing a new body.

S. Mitoh

About this guide

In this guide, students will explore animal regeneration, discuss why scientists are interested in the process and use what they’ve learned to narrate a Science News video about regenerating sea slugs.

This Guide Includes:

Sluggish regeneration

Students will answer questions about the online Science News article “A sea slug’s detached head can crawl around and grow a whole new body,” which explores how some sea slugs regenerate. A version of the story, “No body is no problem for detached sea slug heads,” appears in the April 10, 2021 issue of Science News.

Speaking of science

Students will investigate animals that regenerate, discuss how energy plays a role in the process and think about why scientists might be interested in studying animal regeneration. Students will use what they’ve learned to write a script and narrate a Science News video of regenerating sea slugs.